House fires are getting more common and they can have a huge impact on your life. Most house fires are preventable and therefore it’s very important to have best practices set-up in your home so you can prevent fires. Taking simple precautions can protect your family and go a long way in saving your house. Listed below are simple steps and guidelines that can have

Have a controlled kitchen: One of the most common causes of house fires is cooking. If you fail to pay attention for a few second, it could result in extreme fire. It’s very important to have your clothing out of the way, avoid spilling and most important pay attention to the task at hand and not be distracted.

Smoke outside: Smoking inside is still one of the main reasons of house fires. Be smart and make sure to smoke outside and put out the cigarette butts completely. Leaving half-light up cigarettes can cause spontaneous fires.

Appliance health: Old, damaged and faulty appliances can spark and cause fires in the kitchen. Make sure to replace worn out appliances and cords with new ones and pay attention to any appliance that produces excessive heat. It’s a good idea to get that checked or even replaced.

Fireplace safety: Never leave a fire unattended as it can cause significant damage. Keep rugs, carpets and any another material that can catch fire away from the fireplace. Make sure a professional cleans and inspects the chimney for the winter months.

Smoke detectors: By law, you are required to install smoke detectors. They are very helpful as they alarm you of any smoke as soon it happens. Make sure to test you alarms regularly, replace batteries as needed and replace alarms every 10 years.

Fire extinguisher: In-case a fire does occur, it’s important to have a fire extinguisher in place so you can put out the fire and put out the flames. Make sure to buy the extinguisher from a reputable source and the check the pressure gauge monthly and replace it once it expires. It’s important to keep it in good condition.

Have a plan for evacuation: It’s beneficial to practice and have an evacuation plan in place. This will ensure you have the best chance to escape safely in-case a fire does occur.

Be on the lookout: Pay attention to your everyday surroundings and proactively replace anything that seems broken. If you wait too long, it might cause damage and result in fire.

You can contact any our brokers if you would like some help in finding the best insurance to protect your home in case of a fire. We are here to help!

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